Subwoofer boom is too much for me...

Don't forget the bass traps:

...and the OP disappears.

AudioGon threads remind me of conversations in the dining hall of my parent's independent living facility. 

I've had full range box speakers then because of the boominess/one note of the bass moved onto high quality monitors with two rel subs supporting the low end.  This was much better but still some boominess which I attribute to the subs and box speakers interacting with the bass room nodes that all rooms have.  I also installed several bass traps and used EQ to tame the room nodes.  This all helped but still was more of a band aid and didn't eliminate the issues completely.

I've since moved onto open baffle speakers with powered bass drivers and what a revelation the bass was in the same room as my previous box speakers and subs.  The bass is so much cleaner, faster and defined, no comparison.  Absolutely no bass boominess or overhang, fantastic change for the better.  I didn't realize what I was missing all these years and even got used to the bass of my rels which was pretty good.

The rels are retired for audio use and I only use them for my home theater now.  For home theater I do believe box subs are preferable as it is better to have boomier longer lasting bass for explosions etc.  But for music I want the opposite, I want quick detailed fast bass notes which my open baffle bass solved.  Open baffles interact with bass nodes much much less so than box speakers do and work well even in difficult rooms.  I don't even need my bass traps any longer.

["nrenter  ...and the OP disappears."]

And why not? The OP solved the issue on page one. Your right though, it's par for the goN.

Of the 93 responses, give or take, I count 10 that addressed the OP's fundamental question, including the brilliant paper cup solution.

The other 83, including 3 of mine and 2 of yours are mostly worthless yet sincere suggestions by those who've reached some modicum of subwoofer satisfaction.  Then there's the pontificators who've solved for us a subject as vast as the human finger print, the subwoofer in virtually unlimited room and associated equipment variables. 

nrenter, I'm still schlepping my Bass but most nights my other foot's in that dining hall.   

avatar:     https://www.stringvirtuoso.com/artists/lorraine-campet/